Thank You!
Posted By: Madame Fleur
Nov. 25, 2008
Domestic drilling advocates label carbon sequestration as unproven while “renewable only” energy champions criticize it as shortsighted. Nonetheless, it is an energy option that the Department of Energy (DOE) wishes to pursue.
The Big Sky Partnership of Montana State University won a $66.9M grant from the DOE this week to complete carbon capture research in southern Wyoming to determine if carbon dioxide can be safely stored underground or if other storage means are necessary.
Carbon sequestration is an alternative energy technology designed to mitigate the harmful environmental effects of burning fossil fuels. Rather than releasing the carbon dioxide emitted from burning fossil fuel into the atmosphere, it captures and stores the harmful greenhouse gas.
Tests are needed to determine where and how carbon dioxide can be safely stored. With this study, MSU hopes to show that the carbon dioxide gas can be liquefied and injected into porous, underground rock for long-term storage. If carbon sequestration is proven to deliver safe, permanent and economical results, coal-rich states like Montana could continue to enjoy abundant energy from their own fossil fuel-rich natural resources without risk of damaging the environment.
The DOE award will fund a commercial-scale, eight-year carbon sequestration study that could begin as early as next year. Two years will be spent building infrastructure and drilling an 11,000-foot well into the sandstone rock layer west of Big Piney, Wyoming. Once the infrastructure is in place, researchers will inject more than a million metric tons of CO2 into the underground formation.
Lee Spangler, director of the Big Sky Partnership and head of MSU's Energy Research Institute, said the award opens up important opportunities for the region, state and university.
"It provides the opportunity to validate carbon sequestration as one of the technologies to reduce greenhouse gases and help reduce climate change, and it illustrates the potential to use the region's vast energy resources as a path to energy independence in a climate-friendly fashion," Spangler said.
Recently re-elected Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer has fought loudly for funding to study the usefulness of carbon sequestration in Montana. Schweitzer is considered a leading proponent of clean carbon technologies and has touted the potential of carbon sequestration since taking office in 2004.
"This project is one of the most important things to the governor," said Eric Stern, senior counselor to Gov. Schweitzer. "We believe that this is the first step toward making Montana a major energy center," Stern said.
We in Montana share our Governor’s optimism for this project and are proud of the great work being done by the Big Sky Partnership at MSU. So, on that note, go Cats!!
Posted By: Madame Fleur
Oct. 6, 2008
Montana ’s gubernatorial candidates have sparred in three debates since the first was held in Missoula on September 15. For those of you who are not familiar, popular Democratic incumbent Brian Schweitzer is running against Republican state senator Roy Brown and Libertarian Stan Jones.
The latest polls show Schweitzer safely 15 points ahead of Brown, but the margin of his lead has dropped since July. It can be difficult to sort through all the information and misinformation being tossed around in a debate, so I thought I’d help Montanans by clarifying where each candidate stands on at least one imortant issue. Energy.
Brian Schweitzer is well known in Montana for his progressive stance on energy policies. When asked about global climate change during the debate, Schweitzer said:
"I believe that 95 percent of the scientists are correct, that we are increasing carbon dioxide on this planet and we are going to see climate change…We have to move aggressively toward a coal system that does sequester or create industrial products with the carbon dioxide."
He also proudly listed some of his accomplishments on the topic of renewable energy sources, primarily his investment in wind energy and biodiesel production. He’s also known nationally for tirelessly advocating federal funding of “clean coal” technology.
During the debate, Republican Roy Brown skirted a concrete answer about whether climate change is caused by human activities, saying:
“Put aside discussions and disputes, we can agree on one thing, the climate is changing.”
He also promised a more aggressive energy policy in Montana if elected Governor, with expanded coal mining, a new power plant and fewer barriers to oil and gas exploration.
Libertarian Stan Jones, as expected, dismissed the notion that carbon dioxide emissions have any impact on global climate change. His response:
“I don’t believe it’s happening because of human-caused events…. Coal-fired power plants? Let’s build them. We don’t have to worry about carbon dioxide.”
Joe Biden asked in the vice presidential debate last Thursday how you can solve a problem without knowing the cause of the problem. He was right in asking that question that, just like Roy Brown, Sarah Palin could not answer.
There is only one candidate in the Montana gubernatorial election who has even expressed an interest in understanding the causes of climate change, and that man is Brian Schweitzer.
Montanans are sitting on vast deposits of coal, which can be harnessed into clean energy if Schweitzer is given four more years to complete research and develop coal sequestration facilities. Between clean coal, wind and biodiesel energy sources, Montana could realistically lead the country in energy production in the next ten years, creating jobs, growing our state’s economy, and serving as an example of what can be done with the right leadership.
I am proud to have such a smart, innovative Governor representing our state and, when it comes to harnessing the energy potential of Montana, there is, quite clearly, no competition.
